Fine Dust Alert Over Lunar New Year Weekend, but Temperatures to Stay Mild [Weather]

According to Financial News, the Lunar New Year holiday will bring milder-than-usual temperatures, but fine dust levels are expected to be high at the start of the break.
On Saturday the 14th, the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, fine dust concentrations in Seoul, northern Gyeonggi, southern Gyeonggi and the Yeongseo region of Gangwon are forecast to reach the "very bad" range.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that air quality in Seoul, northern Gyeonggi, southern Gyeonggi and the Yeongseo region of Gangwon will be "very bad," while Incheon, the Yeongdong region of Gangwon, the Chungcheong region, Gwangju, North Jeolla Province, Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province are expected to see "bad" levels. Incheon and the Chungcheong region are also forecast to reach "very bad" levels in the morning. Residual fine dust from the previous day will accumulate under stagnant air, and additional inflows of overseas fine dust will cause concentrations to deteriorate rapidly.
South Jeolla Province, Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province are expected to see air quality ranging from "good" to "moderate," but levels could rise to "bad" in the morning.
In most regions, fine dust concentrations have increased as leftover particles from the previous day and domestically emitted pollutants have built up under stagnant atmospheric conditions. From midday, additional overseas fine dust is forecast to flow in on northwesterly winds, starting with the Seoul metropolitan area and then spreading southeastward across the country.
From late afternoon, cleaner northwesterly air is expected to move in, gradually lowering fine dust levels beginning in the Seoul metropolitan area.
On the 15th, fine dust levels in the Seoul metropolitan area, the Yeongseo region of Gangwon, the Chungcheong region, Gwangju, North Jeolla Province and the Yeongnam region are forecast to be "bad," while other areas should remain at a "moderate" level. However, if additional overseas fine dust flows in from midday, "bad" conditions could expand nationwide.
The murky air is expected to persist through the weekend, but from Monday the 16th, cleaner northwesterly winds and better atmospheric dispersion should bring fine dust concentrations down to "low" across all regions.
Some areas will see light rain. In Incheon, northern Gyeonggi and the northern inland part of Gangwon, less than 1 millimeter of rain is expected between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the 14th. Around 1 millimeter of rain is also forecast for the mid-mountain areas and highlands of Jeju Island.
Warm, spring-like weather will continue over the weekend. On the 14th, morning lows will range from -2 to 6 degrees Celsius, and daytime highs will climb to between 9 and 17 degrees, above seasonal norms. Morning lows in major cities are forecast at 4 degrees in Seoul, 3 in Incheon, 1 in Suwon, -1 in Chuncheon, 6 in Gangneung, 0 in Cheongju, 0 in Daejeon, 2 in Jeonju, 2 in Gwangju, 1 in Daegu, 6 in Busan and 7 on Jeju Island.
Daytime highs will reach 12 degrees in Seoul, 9 in Incheon, 12 in Suwon, 10 in Chuncheon, 16 in Gangneung, 14 in Cheongju, 15 in Daejeon, 16 in Jeonju, 15 in Gwangju, 17 in Daegu, 15 in Busan and 16 on Jeju Island.

spring@fnnews.com Lee Bo-mi Reporter